This may sound crazy to many Americans, but in Costa Rica you cannot flush toilet paper. Yep, that means you have to do the nasty and then throw the disgusting toilet paper in the garbage. It’s not as bad as it sounds, so read on to learn more.
How on earth is this a possibility? Well, when Costa Rican septic systems were built, it was never built up to a high enough quality to handle flushing toilet paper.
Per Costa Rica Rios:
You can’t flush toilet paper in Costa Rica – TRUE!
Ok, so here’s a myth we can’t (and would never want to) bust. The country’s plumbing was never built to accommodate for excessive amount of toilet paper and, since many systems are septic or composting, you’ll find ‘toilet paper bins’ in every toilet stall, all over the country. So…do the right thing…and pop it in the bin!
You may be wondering why I said, “It’s not as bad as it sounds.” Well, that’s because there are always receptacles near the toilet that allow you to make quick disposal of your soiled TP. Okay, maybe it is as bad as it sounds.
Need evidence that this actually happens? Here is a sign from Costa Rica that tells people using their restroom not to flush the toilet paper:
When in Costa Rica you won’t always have to drop your toilet paper in the garbage receptacles. If you are in a fancy gated community or an exclusive hotel there is a chance they will have advanced their plumbing and you will be able to flush your toilet paper.
